Saudi Firms Cut Expat Salary Premiums as Vision 2030 Spending Tightens

Recruiters say foreign workers can no longer expect hefty pay premiums as Saudi Arabia rationalises megaproject spending and pivots to AI, logistics and mining

xSaudi firms are scaling back generous salary premiums that once lured top foreign talent into sectors such as construction and manufacturing as the kingdom reins in spending and reorders economic priorities, four recruiters told Reuters. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, is more than halfway through its economic transformation blueprint, known as Vision 2030, aimed at reducing dependence on hydrocarbon income, creating jobs, and expanding industries such as tourism, real estate, mining and financial services. As part of the long-term plan, the kingdom has invested massively in multi-billion-dollar megaprojects, vastly